Los Angles — Kobe Bryant scored 28 points and Ramon Sessions had seven points and five assists in his Los Angeles debut as the Lakers beat Minnesota 97-92 Friday night for their 19th consecutive victory over the Timberwolves.
Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Pau Gasol added 17 points and 11 rebounds in the Lakers’ fifth straight win overall — and their first game since early 2007 without Derek Fisher in their starting lineup.
The five-time NBA champion point guard was traded to Houston on Thursday, and Sessions arrived from Cleveland to replace him, along with promoted starter Steve Blake.
Kevin Love had 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost four of five.
Heat 84, 76ers 78
At Philadelphia, LeBron James scored 29 points and Dwyane Wade had 12 points and 10 rebounds as Miami held on to beat the Sixers.
The Heat led by 29 points in the third quarter before Lou Williams and Evan Turner sparked a Philadelphia comeback that got the Sixers to within four.
James hit a pull-up jumper and sank a pair of free throws in the final 90 seconds to help the Heat seal the victory and end a four-game road losing streak.
Turner had 13 points and Williams added 12 for the Sixers.
Knicks 115, Pacers 100
In New York, Tyson Chandler scored 16 points and Jeremy Lin had 13 as the Knicks beat Indiana for their second straight dominant victory under interim coach Mike Woodson.
JR Smith added 16 points and Steve Novak 12 for New York, two nights after the Knicks beat Portland by 42 on the day coach Mike D’Antoni resigned.
The Pacers never led and had their two-game winning streak broken.
Spurs 114, Thunder 105
In Oklahoma City, Tony Parker scored 25 points and Tim Duncan added 16 points and 19 rebounds as San Antonio inched closer to the Thunder in the Western Conference standings.
San Antonio rolled to a 27-point lead in the first half and was up by 20 late in the third quarter before Oklahoma City rallied to within two down the stretch.
Russell Westbrook had 36 points and Durant 25 for first-place Oklahoma City, which leads San Antonio by three games in the West.
Trail Blazers 100, Bulls 89
In Chicago, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and Wesley Matthews added 18 as Portland beat the Bulls, who were without leading scorer Derrick Rose.
Chicago beat the Heat without Rose on Wednesday, but was unable to win a second straight game with him sitting on the bench with a strained groin. OTHER RESULTS: Hawks 102, Wizards 88; Magic 86, Nets 70; Kings 120, Celtics 95;Bucks 120, Warriors 98; Suns 109, Pistons 101; Raptors 114, Grizzlies 100, OT. /ap